Welcome to an exciting cultural journey as we explore the vibrant islands of the Philippines!
This learning unit is designed to introduce preschool and elementary children to this beautiful archipelago through hands-on discovery.
The Philippines is a country that is near and dear to our hearts. My husband is from there, and we’ve traveled there as a family many times. So we were excited to do a learning unit dedicated to this wonderful country!
Read on to find fun activities and crafts to help you learn all about the Philippines!
Free Philippines Crafts for Kids
Parol Craft
For our first craft, we made a parol, which is a Philippine Christmas star. And even if it’s not Christmastime when you make this craft, the Philippines celebrates the longest Christmas season in the world, so you can count that as a cultural experience in and of itself.
The parol is the most iconic symbol of the Filipino Christmas spirit. Traditionally crafted in a five-pointed star shape using bamboo sticks and colorful paper, these lanterns are hung in windows and along streets during the holiday season.
For preschool and elementary kids, making a parol is a beautiful way to explore themes of light, community, and the “Bayanihan” spirit of working together. In the Philippines, the parol is more than just a decoration; it is a expression of faith and a warm invitation for family and friends to gather together.
My son had the best time making his beautiful Christmas parol and was so excited to display it in our house!
Jeepney 3D Craft
When putting together this unit, I knew I had to include a jeepney craft. The jeepney is much more than just a colorful mode of transportation; it is an enduring symbol of Filipino ingenuity and spirit!
Originally repurposed from military jeeps left behind after World War II, these vehicles were modified with extra seats and vibrant, hand-painted designs to serve as the backbone of public transit in the Philippines.
Known as the “King of the Road,” the jeepney represents the community’s ability to take something discarded and transform it into a piece of functional art.
For children, crafting a 3D jeepney is a wonderful way to learn about Filipino culture, creativity, and the importance of resourcefulness.
Carabao Paper Plate Craft
With this easy paper plate carabao craft, kids can make their own adorable water buffalo!
The carabao, or water buffalo, is affectionately known as the national animal of the Philippines and a symbol of the hard work and resilience of the Filipino people. For generations, these gentle giants have been the faithful companions of farmers, helping to plow rice fields and transport goods across the countryside.
Because they are so vital to agriculture and the nation’s food supply, they are treated with great respect and even celebrated with their own colorful festivals.
Crafting a carabao is a wonderful way for preschool and elementary kids to connect with the rural traditions of the islands and honor the “best friend” of the Filipino farmer.
As the national animal of the Philippines, the carabao has a significant role in the culture and history of the Philippines. This makes it a perfect craft to add to your Philippines cultural unit.
Make Your Own Sungka Board
With this fun craft, kids can learn how to make their own sungka board (and the rules for playing this fun game!).
Sungka is one of the most beloved traditional games in the Philippines, serving as a timeless symbol of Filipino community and leisure.
Played on a long, canoe-shaped wooden board called a sungkahan, it features two rows of small holes and two large “heads” at each end.
More than just a pastime, Sungka is a game of strategy and mental calculation that has been passed down through generations, often played during gatherings to foster a sense of togetherness and friendly competition.
Other Philippines Activities
And be sure to check out some of these other fun Philippines activities to help your child learn all about the vibrant culture of the Philippines!
Philippines Activity Bundle
To start off with, we have some fun activities that can be found in our Philippines Activity Bundle!
This set includes lots of fun worksheets, including our Philippines matching game, Philippines I Spy, Philippines word search, as well as a “Philippines at a Glance” and review worksheet. These activities help children to learn more about the details of the country, such as the language, currency, and national symbols.
The bundle also includes a Philippines flag craft so that kids can make their own mini version of the flag of the Philippines.
Bahay Kubo 3D Craft
Kids will love making their own bahay kubo with this easy 3D craft!
The bahay kubo, or nipa hut, is the iconic traditional house of the Philippines and a beautiful symbol of Filipino culture and adaptability. Designed to perfectly suit the tropical climate, these stilted homes are made from natural materials like bamboo and nipa palm leaves, allowing for cool breezes to flow through during the hot summer months.
More than just a building, the bahay kubo represents the spirit of Bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of neighbors coming together to help one another, even literally carrying an entire house to a new location on their shoulders!
For preschool and elementary kids, creating a 3D bahay kubo craft is a wonderful way to explore architecture, sustainability, and the importance of community. As they piece together their miniature home, they can learn how people in the Philippines have lived in harmony with nature for centuries.
Dance
Tinikling
Tinikling is the national dance of the Philippines. It is a traditional Filipino dance where long bamboo poles are tapped on the ground and together while one or more dancers step in and out of the poles.
The trick is to get your foot out before the poles come together. The customary pattern is two taps on the ground and then one tap together.
Here is a nice video showing the pattern and music:
I really wanted to include the tinilking in our Philippines preschool theme, but we didn’t happen to have tinikling poles just lying around. So we had to be resourceful.
For the poles we used arnis sticks (arnis is a form of Filipino martial arts), but any long stick or pole would work for an informal version of the dance.
My three-year-old thought this was great fun. It was a bit of a modification of the traditional dance, but he loved running through the sticks and dancing to the music. And he made a lot of improvement by the time we finished.
Books
The Philippines (Countries We Come From), by Holly Longworth– This book provides detailed information about the Philippines (places, holidays, history, etc.) at a level for a young learner. My son really enjoyed this one.
Sino Po Sila by Jomike Tejido– This series describes different people and has you guess who they are. For example, the “in the community” one includes baker, store vendor, garbage collector, etc. The words are in both English and Tagalog. My boys love this series, especially when dad reads it to them in Tagalog.
Nasaan Po Sila by Jomike Tejido– Describes locations and has you guess where they are. Has a search and find element, which was a huge hit with my three-year-old.
We got both the Sino Po Sila and the Nasaan Po Sila series in the Philippines, but they are available at my local library.
Food
For our snack we chose to make biko, a sweet rice treat common in the Philippines. It was easy to make and all of the ingredients were ones that I already had on hand!
We used this recipe and I halved it to make an 8×8 pan.
This recipe did have quite a bit of stove time, so my boys helped me prep all of the ingredients in the beginning and then went off and played while I finished it up.
But they were more than happy to come back and help again when it was time to eat it!
According to my husband, I didn’t let the rice cook long enough in the beginning (it should be more gelatinous instead of having distinct rice grains), but it still tasted really good!
Another great and easy food to make is pancit, a delicious Filipino noodle dish. We didn’t have the right ingredients to make it this time, but it’s one of our favorites.
Be sure to check out our other cultural preschool units:
France Crafts and Activities for Kids
India Preschool Unit- Fun Crafts, Activities, and More!
USA Crafts and Activities for Kids (Perfect for Fourth of July!)
Japan Crafts and Activities for Kids
England Crafts and Activities for Kids
Uganda Cultural Activities for Young Kids- Crafts, Games, and More!
Mexico Crafts and Activities for Kids
Ireland Crafts and Activities for Kids (Awesome St. Patrick’s Day Activities!)
